Hexella - The Ancient Gaping Mouth
My brain doesn't immediately gravitate towards Texas when I think of black metal but maybe I should change that. Hexella 's debut album is an interesting One for sure. It has a deceptively straightforward sound. The songs are not overly long and are pretty straight to the point for the style they are going for. However, Each of the songs have just enough changes and Dynamics to them so that they stand out far more than other bands who might more complicated music. The old school approach, borne out of a love of 80s black scene in its burgeoning days, goes a long way it making the album as memorable as it is. Yes, the songs are powerful and mystic but they are also clearly the result of much care for the songwriting process. The result is a well balanced black metal album that offers a lot of replay value. I really appreciate just how well the bass slaps---it's not buried in the mix but, rather, it compliments it. The drums are fast and crisp but with a robust feel that does...